Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $27,036 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($218,200 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $498/mo less ($991 vs $1,489)
45% less violent crime than Tacoma
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $27,036/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Income
$27,036
$79,085 vs $52,049/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
45% lower
588.8 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$197k less
$218,200 vs $415,300
Tucson
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 7 and Tucson wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Tacoma to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $218,200 median home), income ($79,085 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Tucson, AZ are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.